Hero Fund

The Rich and Weissman Family Lymphoma and Survivorship Fund

Our son Jared is 23 and an 9 year Hodgkin’s Lymphoma survivor. He is currently working on his Masters degree in Sociology. The Rich and Weissman Family Lymphoma and Survivorship Fund will seek out research that focuses on new treatment options for pediatric lymphoma and also innovative protocols to help pediatric cancer survivors not just live but thrive.

2017

$44,341

Funds Raised in 2017

$91,442

Total Funds Raised

Since 2010

In December of 2007 we returned from a family trip to Seattle with our 13 year old son Jared coughing and quite lethargic.

When I brought him to the pediatrician our lives changed in a single moment. She was examining his neck when she found a large mass that I had never seen before and as she ran her hands over the mass again and again the color drained from her face. This is what it is like to find out your child has cancer. One lump, one doctor with knowledge in her eyes, one phrase spoken, "you must take him to the hospital for tests immediately."

Jared was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma III A-S on December 31 2007. Happy New Years to us! The protocol was a clinical trial out of City of Hope in Duarte CA and chemotherapy began in January. All together he endured 4 rounds of 5 types of chemo, 32 days inpatient, 4 blood transfusions, 40 shots of neupogen, multiple medications, sores in his mouth, throat and esophagus, 3 surgeries, hair loss, pain, nausea, steroid rage, multiple PET scans and CAT scans and finally 14 days of radiation to his neck, chest, abdomen and spleen.

And in the end we were the lucky ones. On July 8th 2008 Jared was declared cancer free. We fulfilled a promise we had made that when treatment was over and the cancer was gone we would jump in the fountain in front of the hospital and dance a victory jig together. And we did. And it was perfect.

In 2010 I heard about a group of women who would be shaving their heads in Los Angeles for The St. Baldrick's Foundation and raising money for pediatric cancer research. The team was called the 46 mommas named for the approximately 46 children who are diagnosed each weekday in the USA with cancer. I signed up to shave on August 7th, my 46th birthday and went bald for the first time in September raising over $5000. It was the beginning of a journey that would take me around the country to cities like Boston, San Antonio and Las Vegas to help organize amazing events and to shave my head once more in 2014. The 46 mommas have truly given me purpose, passion and a mission to help raise enough money to find a cure for pediatric cancer and to save lives.

Our St. Baldrick's hero fund named The Rich and Weissman Family Lymphoma and Survivorship Fund is the culmination of all the years of work that have come before. The Rich in the title honors my parents, Terri and Barry who have been a driving force in our fundraising journey and our biggest supporters. The Weissman is for my son who we honor by continuing our work each and every day. Lymphoma and survivorship are where we will focus the funds we raise. Battling the disease and searching for a cure while also helping the survivors who suffer the after effects of the toxic treatments used to cure them.

The Rich and Weissman Family Lymphoma and Survivorship Fund Highlights & Happenings

'Fabulous, Bald, and 50'

Alyson decided to ring in her 50th birthday by shaving her head to support childhood cancer research. Read about her story on our blog.

Alyson's 2015 Fundraising

In 2015 Alyson raised funds with the Georgia and the Peachy Keens Hero Fund in honor of her friend Courtney Moore's daughter, Georgia.

Protecting Childhood Cancer Survivors' Hearts With a Pill

Harsh treatments are often needed to save kids' lives from cancer. St. Baldrick's researcher Dr. Armernian spearheaded a study that could help protect the heart and help survivors live long, healthy lives. Learn more here.

Where does the money go?

Donations made to The Rich and Weissman Family Lymphoma and Survivorship Fund have funded a St. Baldrick’s Research Grant for Theresa Keegan, Ph.D. Dr. Keegan is researching adolescent and young adult survivorship issues at the University of California, Davis School of Medicine which is affiliated with UC Davis Children's Hospital.

The Foundation is guided by a Scientific Advisory Committee, comprised of leading experts in the childhood cancer community, to ensure that every dollar makes the greatest impact for kids with cancer.

Who's involved

These people make us smile - they’re the doers and money-raisers on behalf of The Rich and Weissman Family Lymphoma and Survivorship Fund. They’re shaving their heads, hosting events, starting fundraisers and more to make childhood cancer research possible.

Get involved your own way:

Start your own St. Baldrick’s head-shaving event to raise money on behalf of our Hero Fund! You’ll be paired with a staff
member who will walk you through every step of the process, and you’ll have fun knowing you’re doing a great thing for kids with cancer.

Register to shave your head and raise money for our Hero Fund at any
St. Baldrick’s event happening around the world! Not finding an event near you? Register as a virtual shavee and shave your head anytime, anywhere.

Head-shaving not your thing?
You can start a fundraiser to raise money for our Hero Fund with
St. Baldrick’s in a way that interests you! Like biking? Bike a marathon.
Like baking? Start a cookie baking fundraiser… You get the picture.

St. Baldrick’s Foundation1333 South Mayflower Avenue, Suite 400Monrovia, CA 91016 USA(888) 899‑2253·sbinfo@stbaldricks.orgThe St. Baldrick’s Foundation is a non-profit 501 (c)3 organization, IRS identification number 20-1173824.
Donations made to the St. Baldrick’s Foundation are tax deductible in the U.S. · Privacy Policy